Horn Memorial Hospital CEO Chris Nichols announced last week
that he has accepted a position as CEO of Fillmore County Hospital in Geneva,
Nebraska. Nichols informed the Board of
his decision
on Tuesday and the Board accepted his resignation and contract release effective August 11th, 2017.
on Tuesday and the Board accepted his resignation and contract release effective August 11th, 2017.
Before a new CEO is named, the Board has a CEO succession plan that will place shared administrative responsibilities of the hospital on Chief Financial Officer, Marcia Fehring, and Chief Nursing Officer, Jo Hayes. The Board has already initiated a search for a new CEO.
Board Chair Randy Carpenter comments, “We wish Chris and his
family well and are grateful for the leadership he has provided the hospital
and community. The hospital is on very
stable ground with Marcia and Jo providing leadership seamlessly until we find
a replacement for Chris.”
Nichols just finished his fourth year as CEO of Horn
Memorial. He and his wife, Jaci, and
their three children, Garrett (14), Abby (13), and Ali (8), moved to Ida Grove
in May of 2013 from Grand Island, Nebraska.
Under Nichols’ leadership, the hospital enjoyed a period of financial
success and will have completed a new Inpatient Room project by the time he
leaves. Several key staff have also been
brought on board, including physician, Sharon Vande Vegte and Chief Nursing
Officer, Jo Hayes.
Nichols comments, “We are excited but at the same time so
sad to leave a place we have come to love.
The opportunity to return home to within an hour of where we both grew
up, closer to our family and long term friends, was too good to pass up. It’s a similar sized community to Ida Grove
and a similar sized hospital to Horn, but nothing can replace the people we’ve
met here. This place will be a part of
us forever. I want to thank the
community, the school system, and the hospital staff for being so great to my
family. We will truly miss this place.”
